THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 28, 1995 TAG: 9508280117
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
In the words of Time Warner Sports president Seth Abraham, Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker and Roy Jones Jr. are the two kings on HBO's boxing chessboard.
Whitaker is about to be guaranteed the cable network will never call checkmate on him.
HBO, owned by Time Warner, has agreed in principle to a contract to televise the remainder of Whitaker's professional fights. Whitaker's WBC welterweight title defense over Gary Jacobs Saturday in an Atlantic City Convention Center ballroom was the last of a four-fight, $18 million deal signed 16 months ago. Whitaker fought on HBO eight times prior to that contract, but always on a one- or two-fight contract.
Abraham said the new deal is open-ended to accommodate as many fights as Whitaker, 31, wishes before he retires. It includes a provision allowing some bouts to be on TVKO - Time Warner's pay-per-view arm - depending on the quality of the opponent and how often Whitaker fights. Financial terms will be based on similar factors, as well as whether or not the fight is pay-per-view.
``I imagine it will be enough to get the attention of the IRS,'' Abraham said late Saturday after Whitaker won a unanimous decision. ``Obviously it will be greater than the previous deal.''
Abraham said HBO and Whitaker's handlers will jointly decide which fights to take to pay-per-view. However, if Whitaker doesn't fight more than twice a year, both will probably be on HBO.
Whitaker's next bout is scheduled for Nov. 18. HBO did not plan to have Whitaker on again this year, but he asked Abraham in the spring for a date and was accommodated. As Abraham said, Whitaker and Jones are HBO's first priorities. Some of the other chess pieces on the board are George Foreman, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer and Oscar de la Hoya.
Whitaker and Jones are regarded as the world's two best fighters pound-for-pound.
``These two men have a lot to do with how we craft our boxing schedule,'' Abraham said.
Whitaker's Nov. 18 opponent likely will be either two-time world champion Hector ``Macho'' Camacho or Yory Boy Campas. Projected sites are Atlantic City, Las Vegas or Los Angeles.
Other possibilities on the docket before Whitaker (36-1-1) retires are World Boxing Association welterweight champion Ike Quartey and International Boxing Federation champ Felix Trinidad.
Quartey, of Ghana, is an excellent young fighter who was supposed to fight on the undercard Saturday, but had managerial problems that prevented it. Chairman Dan Duva of Main Events, which promotes Whitaker, said Quartey needs a few fights in this country to make the bout attractive for both HBO and the gate.
Trinidad is a bit more problematic, because he's a Don King fighter. King also has Julio Cesar Chavez - the fighter Whitaker, his handlers and HBO/TVKO want to get in the ring with Whitaker more than anyone else. Despite a $7.5 1/2 million guaranteed offer to fight Whitaker, King and Chavez haven't bit on a rematch of the controversial September 1993 draw.
``We've done everything we can to get Chavez - everything,'' said Abraham, who added King knows Chavez cannot beat Whitaker.
Because King won't deliver him, Main Events isn't willing to give another of King's men a shot at Whitaker. ``The rematch should have been held a long time ago,'' Duva said. ``We're not going to give a Don King fighter a big money fight when he's been denying Whitaker a shot at Chavez.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo
The deal is open-ended to accommodate as many fights as Pernell
``Sweetpea'' Whitaker wishes before he retires.
by CNB